Ever since Randy Williams of the United States took gold in Munich in 1972, every champion has jumped at least 8.34 meters, with a high point of Carl Lewis’ winning leap in Seoul in 1988 of 8.72.

Rutherford managed 8.31, recorded with his fourth jump, and deserves credit for holding his nerve amid a night where the host nation remarkably claimed three athletics golds – with Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon and 10,000-meter runner Mo Farah also tasting victory.

Behind him though, the field underperformed dramatically. Mitchell Watt of Australia came in second with 8.16m, a mark that would not have been good enough for a medal in any of the eight previous Games. Will Claye of the United States finished in third with 8.12.